Foreign students join in Diwali celebrations

Overcrowded local trains, football at Oval Maidan, watching Bodyguard at Metro theatre: John Gichuru, 20, has dived into a buffet of local experiences in his first three months as an international student at Mumbai University.

On Tuesday he sampled another: Diwali celebrations at the University's annual function for international students.

"I don't know what to expect, but I want to experience everything," said Gichuru, who is in his first year of Bachelors in Accounting and Finance at Patkar College in Goregaon. A few weeks ago Gichuru even packed off four kilograms of saris, artifacts and assorted local curios to his family in Nairobi.

Around 40 international students from Laos, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Kenya among other countries participated in Diwali festivities on Tuesday evening: lighting lamps, soaking up cultural performances by Indian students, hearing about the significance of the festival and sampling local snacks.

"We wanted to give them a feel of Indian culture," said Mrudul Nile, director of students' welfare at the University.

For Anayatullah Habibi, 21, a student from Kandahar, an informal acquaintance with Indian culture has come through crackers, colours and food. "I am very happy to be here at this time," said Habibi, a first year student of Bsc Information Technology.